AMERICAN MACHINES. 329 



known as the " Lcavitt and Hunncwell " and the " Betterly " 

 machines. Both of tlicse machines produce excellent peat fuel, 

 which, we arc informed, sells readily upon the bog, where it is 

 made, at eight dollars a ton ; but of their real or comparative 

 merits we arc not sufficiently informed to express an opinion. 

 Machines built under both of the above-named patents have 

 been in operation during the past season in several other local- 

 ities in the State ; but of the result, as far as pecuniary profit 

 is concerned, we have no reliable data, other than the fact that 

 all the peat manufactured has found a ready sale. 



In the vicinity of Springfield a machine constructed upon 

 principles quite different from either of the above has been oper- 

 ated during the past season. It is known as the " Leet 

 machine," and one of its peculiarities is an arrangement for 

 separating the fibre from the denser portions of the peat. It is 

 doubted by some if this feature gives the machine any advan- 

 tage ; but without pretending to decide the question, we will 

 only observe that specimens of peat which we have seen of its 

 production appear to be of excellent quality. 



All of the machines alluded to in the foregoing pages require 

 considerable motive power for their operation ; varying from 

 eight to fifteen horse, and an outlay of five thousand dollars is 

 the lowest estimate we have seen for putting them fairly at 

 work. A considerable outlay it is true, but yet not one to deter 

 an enterprising man or company from investing in the business, 

 if, upon careful examination, it appears that the results claimed 

 by the inventors can be realized. 



Another competitor for the favor of the public is known as 

 the " Rae Patent Peat Machine." It was invented in New 

 York, by Dr. Rae, of Syracuse. It has been in use during the 

 past season in the States of Wisconsin and Illinois, and comes 

 to the East highly 'recommended. The Ames Plow Company, 

 of Boston, control the entire right to manufacture and sell in all 

 the New England States. This machine is very simple in its 

 construction. It dispenses with the use of movable moulds. 

 These machines are built of different sizes and capacity, from 

 one which can be operated by a single horse-power, and pro- 

 ducing four or five tons of dry peat per day, to that which will 

 require an engine of five horse-power, and produce from fifteen 

 to twenty tons in the same time. The outward form of the 



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